Sprocket chain truing device



Dec. :1, 1937. W, EGENHEIMER 2,101,172

SPROCKET CHAIN TRUING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1936 1N VENTOR. W/LL/fl/ azammmm ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFiCE SPROCKET CHAIN TRUING DEVICE H William Gegenheimer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Willard Manufacturing Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application August 26, 1936, Serial No. 98,092

2 Claims. (01. 74-240) This invention relates to means for truing or and idlers with chains thus generally illustrated compensating for the slack in sprocket chains. are commonly employed in connection with litho- The invention is adapted particularly for use graph and printing machinery for the purpose of in connection with printing machinery, and carrying the paper at the delivery end of the 5 wherein chains are employed as conveyors for press, and these chains usually have associated 5 gripper bars to carry the paper at the delivery therewith suitable gripper bars for engaging and end of a lithograph or printing press. While the holding the paper in its travel. However, as the invention is especially useful in connection with grippers and the manner in which they operate such machinery, it will be understood that it is form no part of the invention it has been deemed not necessarily restricted to such use but is caunnecessary to show and describe the same in 10 pable of general application. the present application.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- The preferred embodiment of the invention invide means of simplified and improved construccludes a guide illustrated more particularly and tion for truing the chain as it passes from the clearly in Figure 3, which guide includes a finger sprocket or idler to the power wheel, preventing l2 Secured at its real and as y Screws l3 a 15 the chatter and friction usually encountered as rigid pa t O t e frame 0f the p nt n machinethe chain leaves the idler. This guide has a smooth and straight upper face A further object is to provide means whereby and is located so that such face will be disposed in the upper or power flight or reach of the chain a straight line tangential to the power sprocket may be maintained in a true and undeviating and idler at the upper reach or flight of the chain. line, thus minimizing friction and chatter and The finger is narrow and capable of fitting bepreventing sag of the chain flight. tween the spaced links of the conveyor chain so With these objects in view, together with others that the pins connecting said links will rest and which will appear as the description proceeds, ely S de p the guide This guide extends the invention consists in the novel construction, adjacent to the pp p p y 0f the idler 9 80 25 combination and arrangement of parts, all as will that the links passing the e in their pp be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated fli ht will m v n to th guide an be s pp rt in the drawing and particularly pointed out in thereon for a substantial period next following the claims. their leaving of the idler. In the accomplishment 3 In the drawing: of this result, the idler Ill is provided with a cir- Figure 1 is a sectional View tak through cumferential channel I5 into which the reduced spaced sprocket shafts and illustrating in side end of the finger 12 s, in O der t at the elevation the sprocket, idler and chain with a xtremity f th guide m y p b y nd he v rtruing device employing the invention associated tical center of the shaft 8 suppo the e therewith, By this arrangement it is apparent that as the 35 Figure 2 is a plan view of the chain and links successively pass around the idler the connecting pins or bolts l6 thereof engage and are sprocket,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken gu d p the upper Surface of the finger for substantially upon line 3-3 of Figure 2, a substantial distance. The guide thus obviates Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken the p s y of the Chain Sag as s p es nted 40 upon line 44 of Figure l, in Figure 5, and the finger so arranged elimi- Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating hates the chatter as well as the retarding action the course usually assumed by a sprocket chain of the chain incident to said chain sag. passing from the idler without a truing device, While it is preferred that the idler or sprocket and member be provided with a circumferential chan- 5 Figure 6 is a plan view of a sprocket and slight-- nel, the invention may equally as well be carried ly modified form of guard associated therewith. out in connection with a true sprocket wheel. Referring now more particularly to the draw- In Figure 6 of the drawing there is shown a plan ing, 1 and 8 represent spaced conveyor shafts; view of a sprocket wheel represented at l! having the former in this instance constituting the power the usual teeth and mounted upon the support- 50 shaft and having a sprocket 9 secured thereto, ing shaft It. The guide in this instance will inwhile the shaft 8 constitutes the idler shaft and clude a yoke having parallel arms l9 to straddle has an idler or roller l0 connected thereto. The the sprocket and to support the side links of the endless chain-ll passes around the sprocket and chain as it passes from the sprocket. In this form idler as will be clearly understood. Sprockets of the invention, it will be understood that the 55 chain 'will rest upon its side links in traveling over the guide instead of upon the connecting pins or bolts as illustrated in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

From the foregoing it is obvious that the application of a guide such as described eliminates the chatter and noise incident to the sag usually encountered in the idler pulley of the conveyor mechanism, while the lifting of the chain from the idler preparatory to its making contact therewith materially reduces friction and thus economizes power.

What I claim is:

1. In a chain guide,'a sprocket having an annular central groove in its periphery, a finger affixed adjacent to said sprocket and projecting into said groove, the said finger disposed tangentially to said sprocket.

I tangent to the base circumference of the sprocket,

the said operative face disposed between the side links of the chain.

WILLIAM GEGENHEIMER. 

